Aaliyah was a patient in a lot of pain. She suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with chronic pain all over her body. Her bed was placed in the living room of a very small house, and the door that led outside was broken. For the nurse and I to get into the house, we … Continue reading “The Christmas Tree”
School: University of Pittsburgh
A Journey Beyond Time
Before I began this eye-opening program, I was fairly unfamiliar with hospice care and all the services that it offers. I understood that it was created to help dying patients and their families with a smooth transition from life to death. What I did not understand, however, was the untouchable level of compassion and accommodation … Continue reading “A Journey Beyond Time”
Peace and Understanding
As an aspiring physician, I have spent years learning about the intricate physiological processes that make our bodies function and the ways in which these processes can fail. I have been tested on the scientific aspects of medicine countless times already in my college years and will continue to be tested on them throughout my … Continue reading “Peace and Understanding”
More Than A Patient
It feels just like yesterday that I visited my first hospice patient in the hospital. I can attest that it was one of the most nerve wracking experiences I had undergone. I felt like there were certain things that I had to say, and I had to say them at the right times in order … Continue reading “More Than A Patient”
The Sun Will Always Set
When signing up to be a hospice volunteer, I thought I would be helping others. However, there are many ways that the pre-med hospice volunteer program has helped me. I have worked in several patient care settings, including a personal care facility and an oncology unit in a hospital. In these settings, I have been … Continue reading “The Sun Will Always Set”
Death: An Immovable Part of Life
Technique, science mastery, and the ability to analyze situations critically are all universal skills taught to pre-medical students in their undergraduate years. However, soft skills like bedside manner, an ability to relate to a patient, and an aptitude for mentally meeting a patient where they are all go beyond the textbook. When asked about hospice, … Continue reading “Death: An Immovable Part of Life”
Hospice Love
Every patient that I have met so far has been amazingly sweet to me, though one patient was particularly memorable. I hadn’t met actually met her in person, but instead made a phone call because I was sick that week. She appreciated our simple, five minute conversation so much that she asked for my name … Continue reading “Hospice Love”
Lets (Not) Talk About Death
I love volunteering in hospitals, seeing patients light up as I bring books, drinks, or pillows for them. But volunteering in hospice is different. I have nothing to offer patients but myself, my presence, and my comfort. Even though many patients on the floor are terminally ill, the idea of death was brought up very … Continue reading “Lets (Not) Talk About Death”
The Present of Presence
Upon joining the Pre-Med Hospice Volunteer Program, I was asked the question: What happens when we die? Profound and spiritual answers flowed from my peers as if they had thought about this question every day. When the spotlight fell on me, I replied, “Nothing.” My intention was not to be rude, insensitive, or insincere. I … Continue reading “The Present of Presence”
Nature’s Course
Through this volunteer experience, I had less experience with hospice patients and more with palliative care patients. As I began looking into this opportunity at the VA, there was no distinction between hospice and palliative care. I fell victim of the social stigma associated with these branches of medicine, seeing them as simply a place … Continue reading “Nature’s Course”